Apparatus for the continuous opening of bales of fibrous material

ABSTRACT

A device for opening or shredding bales of compressed fibrous material. The apparatus includes an elongated chamber with a series of opening or shredding elements positioned in spaced relationship along the bottom of the chamber. Means such as an endless belt or vacuum tube disposed adjacent the shredding elements move the loose fibers to the next process operation. A feeding mechanism is used to move the bales into one end of the chamber and in one longitudinal direction along a path within the chamber. A pressure member rides on the bales and provides a downward force to provide positive contact between the bales and the shredding elements. The shredding elements are mounted on a reciprocating carriage moving in the longitudinal direction of the chamber to effect removal of fibers from the bales.

[ Mar. 112, 1974 APPARATUS FOR THE CONTllNUOlUS OPENING OF BAlLlES 01F FTBROUS MATERIAL [75] Inventor: Gunter Ecltrodt, Coesfeld, Germany [73] Assignee: T-llergeth 1&6. Maschinentabrik und Apparatelbau, Dulmen/Westf., Germany [22] Filed: Oct. 27, 19711 [21] Appl. No.: 192,959

30 Foreign Application Priority Data 145,165 U.S.S.R 19/80 R OTHER PUBLICATIONS Japanese Patent Publication No. 33-7477 Published 8-28-58.

Primary ExaminerDorsey Newton Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarkva & Smith 5 7 ABSTRACT A device for opening or shredding bales of compressed fibrous material. The apparatus includes an elongated chamber'with a series of opening or shredding elements positioned in spaced relationship along the bottom of the chamber. Means such as an endless belt or vacuum tube disposed adjacent the shredding elements move the loose fibers to the next process operation. A feeding mechanism is used to move the bales into one end of the chamber and in one longitudinal direction along a path within the chamber. A pressure member rides on the bales and provides a downward force to provide positive contact between the bales and the shredding elements. The shredding elements are mounted on a reciprocating carriage moving in the longitudinal direction of the chamber to effect removal of fibers from the bales.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PMENIEDHAR 21914 SHEU 1 HF 3 I I'll RN'O PATENIEU 2 I974 SHLEI 2 (If 3 APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS OPENING OF BALIES OF FIBROUS MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION brous material bales to loose fibers to be used in later spinning operations.

It is well known to provide a machine which is designed for the opening of bales of fibrous material. The

fibrous material, after it is removed from the condensed bale, is moved by a conveyor to the later spinning operations. This is the first process that the material is subjected to at the start of a textile weaving operation.

It is known to provide an opening device for these bales whereby bales are fed individually across an opening or shredding device where the fibers are pulled or torn from the bale. In this instance, the bale is moved back and forth over a stationary shredding mechanism. This type of machine is necessarily slow in operation since only one or several bales can be handled at any one time. Up to now it has not been possible to continuously treat a series of bales simultaneously. A considerable loss of energy is encountered due to the continuous reversing of the bale direction in its transverse motion while at the same time removing the fibers. A device of this type, then, requires larger and more costly drive means.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION The primary object of this invention is to provide a bale opening device whereby a multitude of individual bales may be opened or reduced continuously and simultaneously while the resulting loose fibers are continuously moved to a spinning operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby the bales may be fed to a device where a continuous opening operation may be performed automatically and without human assistance.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for the opening of bales of fibrous material whereby the opening is performed in a rapid and economical manner.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the simultaneous removal of material from a multitude of bales so that a complete mixing of the fibers from the individual bales may be performed. In this way, a consistent quality of fibers for the next operation can be provided. 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of this invention comprises an elongated chamber means for the opening or shredding of bales of fibrous material and conveyor devices for moving the bales along a path through the chamber. The chamber has an open end into which the bales are introduced. A series of shredding elements are disposed in spaced relationship along the bottom of the chamber. The shredding elements include projecting pins for pulling or tearing the fibers from the bales. The shredding elements are mounted on pairs of rollers that counter rotate to pull the fibers through the opening between the rollers. The fibers are deposited on a continuous conveyor system below. This conveyor moves the fibers to the next spinning operation.

A pressure element includes a guide surface that extends from the top of the open mouth of the chamber downwardly to the bottom of the chamber at the end opposite the feeding end thereof. Guide rails mounted along the side of the chamber or free-hanging from lateral supports may constitute the desired guide surface. Pressure is applied to the bales as they move through the chamber. The pressure element can also be composed of roller conveyors or continuous belt type conveyors to aid in the movement of the bales toward the rear of the chamber while at the same time applying pressure to hold the bales against the opening elements.

By this method, the bales are continuously pressed against the opening elements. At the same time, the bales are moved towards the rear of the chamber until complete removal of the material from the bale is accomplished.

Spring-loaded grates may be positioned over the elements and biased upwardly against the bottom surface of the bales. The roller projections extend through the grates and draw the fibers down through the grates and onto the conveyor below.

In another feature of the invention, an endless feed conveyor can be provided on the outside of the chamber, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber, so as to feed the bales as required onto the chamber inlet conveyor. By the use of the additional conveyor, a large supply of bales can be stored and moved continuously into the opening or shredding chamber as required. It is possible to provide additional conveyor storage and moving devices along both longitudinal sides of the chamber, if desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other features of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. l is a diagrammatic sectional view of a bale opening device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 111- III of FIG. 4 showing opening rollers working in another embodiment of a device made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 41 is a top plan view of the opening rollers of FIG. 3 and grating showing the roller projections; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a device made in accordance with this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus, generally designated l, includes an elongated box chamber 2 having longitudinal sides 3 and 4. A feeding means 5 adjacent the open end of the chamber 2 to feed bales 30 is arranged in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chamber 2. The feeding mechanism 5 may be an endless belt conveyor or other equivalent device. An additional conveyor means 9 is disposed along the outside of the chamber 2 to supply bales to the feeding mechanism 5 in the direction of the arrow A. Thus, bales 30 are moved along the conveyor 9 to the transverse feed conveyor 5 and introduced or required into the open end of the chamber 2. The conveyors 5 and 9 may be any type of conventional conveyor means known in the prior art.

An opening mechanism 10 is disposed at the bottom of chamber 2 and includes a plurality of spaced roller elements 11. Conveyor belts l2 longitudinally bridge the space between the roller elements 11. The conveyor belts 12 are supported and guided by rotatable rollers 13, 14. The roller elements 11 and the conveyor belts 12 are mounted on a common carriage 15 in the embodiment of FIG. 1. The carriage 15 is adapted to be moved forward and backward. The motor 16 provides power to effect the forward and backward movement through the link 18 that is attached to a crank 17.

The roller or opening elements 11 may be individual rollers having perpendicularly extending pins or fingers 11a or may be a rotating member composed ofa series of toothed disks. The extending fingers or teeth may be aligned in spiral or inclined position so that the individual rows of teeth will move transversely across the bottom surface of the fiber bale. This arrangement can best be seen in the embodiment of FIG. 4.

An outlet conveyor unit 19 is disposed below the opening device 10 for receiving the material fibers which have been pulled or shredded from the fiber bales. The fibers are carried downwardly by the rotation of the opening elements 11 and drop onto the conveying device 19. In this embodiment, conveyor 19 is composed of an endless belt which is threaded around pulleys 21 and driven at one end by a power means 20, such as an electric motor.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, an outlet conveyor unit includes a plurality of tubes 35 which are connected to individual upwardly extending funnels 36. The loose fibers issuing from the bales B move through the funnels 36 and tubes 35 to outlet 37. A differential pressure in the form of positive air pressure or vacuum may be applied to the outlet conveying unit 35, 36, 37 to effect the desired fiber movement.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, opening rollers 11 are mounted on a pair of axles (not numbered) located on an independently movable carriage 15a. As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a motor 160 provides power to effect reciprocal movement to carriage 15a through link 18a attached to crank 17a. Each carriage 15a includes rollers 22 that roll on longitudinal rails 23. The opening elements 11 are driven by an endless belt or chain 25 which is in turn driven by a motor 24 mounted on the carriage 15a. Sprockets or pulleys 26, 27 are provided in this embodiment to rotate the elements 11 in a counter-rotating direction.

A grating 28 is provided above the opening rollers 11 to support the bales 30 as they move longitudinally through the opening chamber 2. The grating 28 of this embodiment comprises half sections 28a and 28b that are flexibly connected at their adjacent edges along an articulated axis 31. The grating 28 is biased upwardly along the axis 31 by a spring member 32. Thus, the grate 28 may be articulated downwardly against the spring bias means 32. This movement permits the fiber bales 30 to move closer to the opening roller elements 11 which shred more fibers from the surface of the bales 30.

Guide rollers 33 are included at the upper edge of the carriage 15a to facilitate movement of the bales 30 across the grating 28 and the opening rollers 11. These guide rollers 33 may include longitudinal corrugations on their surface if desired.

Across the top of the chamber 2, an element 34 is provided to exert downward pressure against the top of the fibrous bales. The pressure element 34 may comprise guide rails, rollers, or an endless belt arrangement. The element 34 extends downwardly from the top of the chamber 2 at the feed end to a point adjacent the opening surface along the carriage 15 as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, as the bales 30 move in a longitudinal direction towards the rear of the chamber 2, the pressure element 34 exerts a downward force holding the bales 30 against the opening roller elements 11 located in the oscillating carriage 15. The opening elements 11 constantly act on the bottom surface of the bales 30 moved along the chamber 2. The fibrous material is shredded and torn from the bales 30 and deposited in the collecting means 19, 35. The pressure element 34 is designed to be loose enough to permit the short forward and backward motion of the carriage 15, 15a so that the oscillating movement of the carriage will also assist in removal of the fibers from the bales 30. If desired, the inclination of the pressure element 34 may be adjusted to control the amount of pressure which is exerted on the top surface of the bales 30. Thus, the bales 30 are moved continuously in one dir ction and are completely disintegrated by the time they reach the end of the chamber 2.

A bale injecting or pressing device 6 is provided at the open end of the chamber 2. The injecting device 6 includes a flat plate 7 and a piston-cylinder unit 8. The plate 7 is moved longitudinally with respect to the chamber 2 by piston-cylinder unit 8. Sufficient clearance is provided between the open end of the chamber 2 and the face plate 7 when it is in the retracted position. This enables a new bale to be moved into the open end of the chamber 2 by the conveying means 5. The new bale as well as all other bales in the chamber are moved towards the rear end of the chamber 2 when the plate 7 is extended. As the bales 30 move longitudinally, providing sufficient room for a new bale, the face plate 7 is retracted and the next new bale is introduced.

By the work cycle described herein a continuous operation may be performed without interruption. Thus, bale opening treatment may be completely automatic and continuous.

While the fibrous bale opening apparatus has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for shredding fibers from a compact bale of fibrous material comprising:

a. an elongated shredding chamber,

b. a feeding mechanism disposed adjacent said chamber for providing a supply of bales to a feeding end of the chamber,

c. means for moving individual bales of material from the feeding end of the chamber in one longitudinal direction along a path through the chamber to the other end therereof,

d. said bale moving means including a pressing device disposed at one end of the chamber and being movable between a resting position and a retracted position,

e. shredding means disposed at the bottom of the chamber for removing fibers from each bale, and

f. means disposed adjacent the shredding means to receive the fibers shredded from the bales,

g. said feeding mechanism including first conveying means for feeding a supply of bales to the bale moving means in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chamber,

h. said first conveying means being disposed adjacent said feeding end of the chamber to feed bales in front of the pressing device when the pressing de vice is in its retracted position.

2. An apparatus for shredding fibers from a compact bale of fibrous material comprising:

a. an elongated shredding chamber,

b. a feeding mechanism disposed adjacent said chamber for providing a supply of bales to a feeding end of the chamber,

c. means for moving individual bales of material from the feeding end of the chamber in one longitudinal direction along a path through the chamber to the other end thereof,

d. shredding means disposed at the bot tom of the chamber for removing fibers from each bale, and

e. means disposed adjacent the shredding means to receive the fiber shredded from the bales,

f. said feeding mechanism including first conveying means for feeding a supply of bales to the bale moving means in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chamber,

g. said chamber including means for applying a continuous downward pressure on the bales moving along said path to bias the bales into contact with the shredding means,

h. said biasing means including a guide surface inclined downwardly toward the end opposite the feeding end of the chamber,

i. said guide surface being disposed in front of the path of movement for each bale so that the guide surface exerts a pressure in the vertical direction downwardly on each bale as the bales are moved through the shredding chamber.

3. An apparatus for shredding fibers from a compact bale of fibrous material comprising:

a. an elongated shredding chamber,

b. a feeding mechanism disposed adjacent said chamber for providing a supply of bales to a feeding end of the chamber,

0. means for moving individual bales of material from the feeding end of the chamber in one longitudinal direction along a path through the chamber to the other end thereof,

d. shredding means disposed at the bottom of the chamber for removing fibers from each bale,

e. said shredding means including a movable frame structure, means for effecting reciprocal movement of the frame structure along the longitudinal axis of the chamber, and a plurality of shredding elements rotatably mounted on the frame structure and spaced along the bottom of the chamber, and

f. means disposed adjacent the shredding means to receive the fibers shredded from the bales,

g. said feeding mechanism including first conveying means for feeding a supply of bales to the bale moving means in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each rotatable element includes projecting members which remove fibers from said bales.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said shredding means includes a grating means positioned above said rotatably mounted shredding elements,

said grating means including openings to permit a portion of the rotating elements to extend therethrough and contact said bales along the bottom thereof.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said grating means includes two half sections which are hingedly connected at their joining edges,

said half sections being biased upwardly in a direction away from the rotating shredding elements along the articulated axis at the hinged connection.

7. An apparatus for shredding fibers from a compact bale of fibrous material comprising:

a. an elongated shredding chamber,

b. a feeding mechanism disposed adjacent said chamber for providing a supply of bales to the feeding end of the chamber,

c. means for moving individual bales of material from the feeding end of the chamber in one longitudinal direction along a path through the chamber to the other end thereof,

d. said feeding mechanism including first conveying means for feeding a supply of bales to the bale moving means in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chamber,

e. shredding means disposed at the bottom of the chamber for removing fibers from each bale,

f. said shredding means including a movably mounted carriage means and means for effecting reciprocating motion to the carriage means along the longitudinal axis of the chamber, and

g. means disposed adjacent the shredding means to receive the fiber shredded from the bales.

@. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said feeding mechanism includes a second conveying means for supplying bales to said first conveying means.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim wherein said second conveying means is disposed adjacent to the length of the shredding chamber and moves the bales in a direction parallel to the direction of movement within said shredding chamber.

=l= l =i =i= 

1. An apparatus for shredding fibers from a compact bale of fibrous material comprising: a. an elongated shredding chamber, b. a feeding mechanism disposed adjacent said chamber for providing a supply of bales to a feeding end of the chamber, c. means for moving individual bales of material from the feeding end of the chamber in one longitudinal direction along a path through the chamber to the other end therereof, d. said bale moving means including a pressing device disposed at one end of the chamber and being movable between a resting position and a retracted position, e. shredding means disposed at the bottom of the chamber for removing fibers from each bale, and f. means disposed adjacent the shredding means to receive the fibers shredded from the bales, g. said feeding mechanism including first conveying means for feeding a supply of bales to the bale moving means in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chamber, h. said first conveying means being disposed adjacent said feeding end of the chamber to feed bales in front of the pressing device when the pressing device is in its retracted position.
 2. An apparatus for shredding fibers from a compact bale of fibrous material comprising: a. an elongated shredding chamber, b. a feeding mechanism disposed adjacent said chamber for providing a supply of bales to a feeding end of the chamber, c. means for moving individual bales of material from the feeding end of the chamber in one longitudinal direction along a path through the chamber to the other end thereof, d. shredding means disposed at the bottom of the chamber for removing fibers from each bale, and e. means disposed adjacent the shredding means to receive the fiber shredded from the bales, f. said feeding mechanism including first conveying means for feeding a supply of bales to the bale moving means in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chamber, g. said chamber including means for applying a continuous downward pressure on the bales moving along said path to bias the bales into contact with the shredding means, h. said biasing means including a guide surface inclined downwardly toward the end opposite the feeding end of the chamber, i. said guide surface being disposed in front of the path of movement for each bale so that the guide surface exerts a pressure in the vertical direction downwardly on each bale as the bales are moved through the shredding chamber.
 3. An apparatus for shredding fibers from a compact bale of fibrous material comprising: a. an elongated shredding chamber, b. a feeding mechanism disposed adjacent said chamber for providing a supply of bales to a feeding end of the chamber, c. means for moving individual bales of material from the feeding end of the chamber in one longitudinal direction along a path through the chamber to the other end thereof, d. shredding means disposed at the bottom of the chamber for removing fibers from each bale, e. said shredding means including a movable frame structure, means for effecting reciprocal movement of the frame structure along the longitudinal axis of the chamber, and a plurality of shredding elements rotatably mounted on the frame structure and spaced along the bottom of the chamber, and f. means disposed adjacent the shredding means to receive the fibers shredded from the bales, g. said feeding mechanism including first conveying means for feeding a supply of bales to the bale moving means in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each rotatable element includes projecting members which remove fibers from said bales.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said shredding means includes a grating means positioned above said rotatably mounted shredding elements, said grating means including openings to permit a portion of the rotating elements to extend therethrough and contact said bales along the bottom thereof.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said grating means includes two half sections which are hingedly connected at their joining edges, said half sections being biased upwardly in a direction away from the rotating shredding elements along the articulated axis at the hinged connection.
 7. An apparatus for shredding fibers from a compact bale of fibrous material comprising: a. an elongated shredding chamber, b. a feeding mechanism disposed adjacent said chamber for providing a supply of bales to the feeding end of the chamber, c. means for moving individual bales of material from the feeding end of the chamber in one longitudinal direction along a path through the chamber to the other end thereof, d. said feeding mechanism including first conveying means for feeding a supply of bales to the bale moving means in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chamber, e. shredding means disposed at the bottom of the chamber for removing fibers from each bale, f. said shredding means including a movably mounted carriage means and means for effecting reciprocating motion to the carriage means along the longitudinal axis of the chamber, and g. means disposed adjacent the shredding means to receive the fiber shredded from the bales.
 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said feeding mechanism includes a second conveying means for supplying bales to said first conveying means.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said second conveying means is disposed adjacent to the length of the shredding chamber and moves the bales in a direction parallel to the direction of movement within said shredding chamber. 